Sacred Cows #1- "The Sinner's Prayer"
This is the first in a series of blog entries aimed at poking fun at some of the sacred cows we Christians cling to. These are primarily practices and beliefs that we cling to, yet which have precious little to do with what the Bible actually says. I suppose that most folks reading this will find their toes being crunched a time or two. That's okay, I'm aiming to promote reflection on how what we think we believe is related to scripture.
The sacred cow on the slaughtering block today is the ubiquitous "sinner's prayer." You've heard it a million times. The preacher (often on TV) will encourage his listeners to do a repeat-after-me prayer that admits sin and professes faith in Christ. Those who followed along are then ensured that their place in heaven is now secure forever.
The first great problem with this is that it truly amounts to "cheap grace." When this is added to the doctrine of perserverance of the saints (once saved always saved) the result is disastrous for the Christian life. The result is the belief that the Christian life is simply being able to mutter some words that really aren't your own. You did the repeat after me prayer and now your place in Heaven is secure and you don't ever have to do anything else. Gone is any notion of sanctification, of growth in faith, of true discipleship. Jesus amounts to nothing but a "get out of Hell free card."
These prayers really are the product of the preacher who starts them. Anyone can mutter the words in response, whether they believe anything or not. The old saying that "talk is cheap" is true. What you say isn't your own words, and may or may not have any relation to any faith you have. This form of prayer is the height of gimmickry as it leads to false notions of discipleship, while at the same time enabling the one leading them to think that they have actually led others to the Lord. Let me put it another way. If a person believes, yet can't find the right words to utter in prayer, does anyone actually believe that God won't pardon him. In fact, we're told specifically that having the right words doesn't matter. Paul tells us in Romans that the Spirit intercedes for us "with groanings too deep for words when we don't know how to pray.
What does the Bible prescribe for salvation? Repeatedly we are told that faith/belief is needed. At times we are told that repentance is required. Romans 10:9 adds "confess with your mouth." The exact wording to a "sinners prayer" simply isn't there. Salvation comes from faith, end of story, and faith involves all these things- repentance, profession, and mental belief. Faith, biblically speaking, implies active trust. Saving faith involves acknowledgement of sin, will result in change of heart and actions. Rest assured guilty sinner, God knows your heart. When you truly have faith God knows and pardons, and that faith will lead to works of piety, will lead to true repentance, and an earnest desire to model your life after Christ.
The sacred cow on the slaughtering block today is the ubiquitous "sinner's prayer." You've heard it a million times. The preacher (often on TV) will encourage his listeners to do a repeat-after-me prayer that admits sin and professes faith in Christ. Those who followed along are then ensured that their place in heaven is now secure forever.
The first great problem with this is that it truly amounts to "cheap grace." When this is added to the doctrine of perserverance of the saints (once saved always saved) the result is disastrous for the Christian life. The result is the belief that the Christian life is simply being able to mutter some words that really aren't your own. You did the repeat after me prayer and now your place in Heaven is secure and you don't ever have to do anything else. Gone is any notion of sanctification, of growth in faith, of true discipleship. Jesus amounts to nothing but a "get out of Hell free card."
These prayers really are the product of the preacher who starts them. Anyone can mutter the words in response, whether they believe anything or not. The old saying that "talk is cheap" is true. What you say isn't your own words, and may or may not have any relation to any faith you have. This form of prayer is the height of gimmickry as it leads to false notions of discipleship, while at the same time enabling the one leading them to think that they have actually led others to the Lord. Let me put it another way. If a person believes, yet can't find the right words to utter in prayer, does anyone actually believe that God won't pardon him. In fact, we're told specifically that having the right words doesn't matter. Paul tells us in Romans that the Spirit intercedes for us "with groanings too deep for words when we don't know how to pray.
What does the Bible prescribe for salvation? Repeatedly we are told that faith/belief is needed. At times we are told that repentance is required. Romans 10:9 adds "confess with your mouth." The exact wording to a "sinners prayer" simply isn't there. Salvation comes from faith, end of story, and faith involves all these things- repentance, profession, and mental belief. Faith, biblically speaking, implies active trust. Saving faith involves acknowledgement of sin, will result in change of heart and actions. Rest assured guilty sinner, God knows your heart. When you truly have faith God knows and pardons, and that faith will lead to works of piety, will lead to true repentance, and an earnest desire to model your life after Christ.
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